Hi people , I'm back ! How did you guys find the story ? Sorry as it was pretty lame for the first chapter :) ! More will be coming up , so please check back , O.K. ? Thanx ! Please R/R !

Please Note : That all character belongs to J.K Rowling , except the stupid plot and Fannison Springfare , who will appear later in the story .


Chapter 2 : The Intruders

" Ouch !" , Harry cried , as he fell on the hard ground . He gazed around trying to find the intruder , while reaching into his own pocket for his wand . He would need his wand for defence . Harry tried to stand up but was being tied down due to a charm performed by the intruder .

" Locomotor Mortis !" , muttered the figure , "What are you trying to do , sonny . Trying to use magic in the Muggles' world ?"

Harry jerked his head up , his glasses slipping from his nose . A figure was standing a few feet away from him , holding a wand . Harry could not see the intruder's face , as the oak trees have cast a shadow on her face .This was made worse as it was not even dawn yet . But he knew that the intruder was a female . Her high-pitched voice gave her away .

" Who are you ?" , questioned Harry , narrowing his eyes , "Why were you attacking me ?"

" Me ?" , the attacker laughed . A high tinkling laugher . " Good thing she still know how to laugh ,"Harry thought , hoping that he could still stall time .

But to Harry's astonishment , she continued , giggling , " My , Harry Potter , how are you ?"

Harry gasped in surprise . How did the attacker know his name and why did she sounds so familiar ? " I'm sure I've heard her voice somewhere before , but where ?" , Harry wondered , glancing up on the dark figure .

The figure moved closer . " Forgotten me , Harry ?"

Harry squirmed his eyes , trying to see who was that .

" It's you ," he cried , after much recognization .


Dawn was approaching as Hermoine Granger rose up from her bed . She could not sleep . Viktor Krum had sent her another bouquet of never-dying roses again . Not that she was delighted . His actions had made her felt uneasy . Especially nowadays . She just couldn't breathe from all the pressure he was exerting on her .

Staring at brightening sky , she began to admire the scenery . The moon and the stars were still bright and twinkling all over the skies , although the Sun would be rising anytime now . The sky was enhanced by the silver lining across the horizons . The scenery was breathtaking . Stretching her head out of the window Hermoine breathed deeply , savoring quiet moment and the sweet air .


" Harry and Ron would be delighted to be here ," she thought , closing her eyes . She missed them . Oddly , she tends to miss them , or rather Harry , a lot more than necessary , nowadays . Almost immediately , Hermoine regretted her words.

" Weird , why should I care ? Anyway , boys will always be boys . They would never learn how to admire a natural scenery ," she thought , chasing the thoughts of Harry away , as she continue to admire the scenery .

Suddenly , the silence was being broken by a loud " SWISH !" , following by a figure falling into the darkness and a loud yelp , which seemed to come from the backyard of Hermoine's home . Hermoine held her breath . What was that ? Grabbing her wand , she glanced into the still darkness . Nothing .

Cautiously , she started off the stairs , leading to the ground floor , positioning her wand , just in case that that " something" jumps on her on the next corner .

" Damn ," Hermoine cursed softly , as she sprang swiftly on the next corner , hoping to get the intruder before it catches her , " I would have to perform a memory charm on those neighbours who witnessed the " UFO" ." As softly as she could , Hermoine opened the back door and peeked outside . All clear .

" Alright , so the UFO was trying to play catching with me ," whispered Hermoine to herself sarcastically , "Lumos."

Holding up her wand up high , Hermoine scanned through the backyard , her back already pricking from the cool air blowing pass her .

" What's an " UFO" ?"

" What?! Who's that ?", Hermoine jumped in fright and spun around .


Penelope Clearwater smiled at Harry . " Finally , Harry ."

Harry continued to stare at Penelope as if she was an alien . Finally , he spoke , stuttering .

"You're ...... You're Penelope , the Ravenclaw Prefect . Percy's girlfriend ."

Penelope nodded slightly , smiling still , but now in amusement .

Harry bowed his head slightly , hoping that Penelope would not see his crimson cheeks . " What am I thinking ? I'm actually scared of Penelope , a Hogwarts Prefect ?!," he thought in embarrassment.

Harry felt Penelope staring at him . He soon realised that his old suitcase on the ground was attracting a lot of attention .

" What's that ?" , Penelope asked , flicking up her eyes in curiosity .

Harry frowned . " A suitcase ."

" Of course I knew that that was a suitcase ! I majored in Muggles' Studies in Hogwarts ! But what are you doing with it ?"

Harry sighed in frustration . The last thing he wanted to chat about was how the Dursleys resented him till they threw him out of the house .


" It's you !", Hermoine gasped in surprise .

Standing a few feet in front of her was Ron Weasley . Throughout the years , Ron had changed by quite a bit . He had grown to become tall and strong , no longer thin and short ( or according to Malfoy , " malnuitritious") . His hair had grown to be striking red , but the effects were good on him , due to his pale skin and translucent . According to the first years onwards , Ron Weasley was their " Prince Charming" . He was even voted in the top ten of " Best Looking Wizards In Hogwarts In A Century" . The only thing was that Ron had never realized that he was good-looking . He spent most of his time buried under the chess strategy books .

Grinning sheepishly , Ron waved at the stunned Hermoine . " Hi Hermoine . Good to see you again ."

Hermoine continued to stare at Ron . Ron had done quite a bit of growing during the five-week holidays . He was much more taller than she had ever remember . Probably a good five-inch . She could not help but gawk at him for a few more minutes.
" Hermoine ?" , Ron asked , now just standing in front of her .

Hermoine blinked . Ron had just snapped her out of her trance . " Huh ?"

" Are you alright ?"

Hermoine nodded quickly , flashing a welcome smile at Ron . " Yeah , just trying to figure out how you could drop straight from the sky . So , how's life ?"

Leading the way , she patted on a white bench , motioning Ron to sit down .

Ron looked at her and sighed wearily . " The broom went haywire . I think Fred had put a charm on it . What can you expect in normal Weasley Household ?"

Hermoine felt instant pity for him . Having two practical jokers , especially twins , for brothers , really sucks . Fred and George Weasley had terrorized everyone's peaceful lives when they were in Hogwarts . They must have broken the highest record for the " Most Number Of Detention Classes Attended". Yet , they prided themselves for breaking the records . " Really , we had fun playing hide-and-seek with Old Filch , trust us ," the twins had commented . " Fred and George were playing tricks on you again , huh ?"

Ron grimaced in reply . " Don't mention the word " Trick" in front of me again ."

Hermoine winced . It must have been really bad . " What happened ?"

Ron's words came like a row of bullet train . " Those two pranksters are inventing a new type of dungbomb . Dungbomb2 , I think . Then one fine day , they called me into the garden . Just when I was preparing to go downstairs , they fired something at me ----"

" Dungbombs ?"

" Yeah , but I discovered something more when the dungbomb came : It's something like the bludger ! And sure enough , the dungbomb now was whizzing across the room , with me running like a madman , and Fred and George laughing appreciatively . Finally , the chase ended when it went smacking into Mum's precious crystal vase and everywhere in chaos ."

" What did Molly said ?"

Now , it was Ron's turn to sigh . " She made us clean up the whole house , and that was not the worst part : She assigned me to clean up the attic ! That meant that the old ghost hidden there would be interrupted and more noise would be created by him . I just cannot believe that I had to do Detention Class in home too !"

Hermoine giggled , by later the giggles became chortles of laughter . It was just too hilarious . Ron was chased by a flying dungbomb ? But noticing Ron's depressed look , she stifled the laughter .

Suddenly , Ron stood up in a start . " Oh , no , I forgot !" He turned sharply , facing Hermoine , " It was Ginny's birthday in a few days' time ," he wrinkled his eyebrows , " and I am supposed to invite you there ! You could stay for the time being if you come to our house today and rest of the holidays too ! So , will you go ?"

Hermoine looked up and meet Ron's expectant gaze . Ginny was her best friend . Of course , she would go . Yet , the first thing which popped to her mind was not what to buy for Ginny , but Harry . " Will Harry be going too ?" , she asked blushing furiously .

" It's a sure thing ," Ron nodded matter-of-factly , " Ginny was Harry's sort-of-girlfriend ."

The fact that Harry was Ginny some sort-of-boyfriend hit Hermoine straight in the guts . " Oh ," was all she could mustered for an answer . Hermoine looked up at the sky . It was now looking like a layer of orange candy-floss . It was dawn .

" So , will you be going ?" , Ron's question cut through her thoughts . She then realised that she had not answered his question yet .

Hermoine blurted out her reply a bit too enthusiastic. " Yeah , sure . Ginny was my best pal , remember ? Do you think we could go now ?" She smiled brightly .

" Sure .Anything."

" Ok , I'm going inside my house to pack ." Hermoine replied , walking briskly out of Ron's sight .

Ron wrinkled his eyebrows again . Hermoine was very weird today , and was totally opposite of her logical self , although it was not the only thing that had changed . Hermoine had grown to be really pretty , which was good . Her hair was now straightened , so it was no longer bushy . With her translucent skin and her slender figure , she could probably win the Yule ball this time around . Watching Hermoine leave , Ron felt a prang of unfamiliarity with Hermoine . Maybe she was not the only one who had changed . He had , too . That would explain why he had felt that skip of his heartbeat every time Hermoine meets up his gaze .

Ron cast a forlorn gaze at the doorway where Hermoine had entered moments ago . She would never know .

" She'll never know ," he nodded firmly , convincing himself as he stood up from the bench .